This unlikely spat came about when former X Factor winner Sam stood up for pal Katie Price in her Closer column by criticising her ex-husband Alex.

Regarding Alex's upcoming tell-all book, the Skyscraper singer wrote: "He’s not famous for anything apart from being with her. This will get him back in the public eye for a little bit, then he’ll date someone else and he might dress up as a woman again – who knows?"

Sam's comments riled Alex so much that the CBB winner penned an open letter which accused Bailey of being transphobic.

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LASHING OUT: Sam defended close friend Pricey

“I would gladly lose all the ‘fame’ Katie Price has supposedly given me in a heartbeat to be able to get on with my life”

Alex Reid

Saying he had never heard of the X Factor star, Alex wrote: "I was keen to write to you, both to congratulate you on your professional grasp of hearsay, and also your ability to selectively regurgitate nuggets of media hype that only fit your distorted agenda.

"Perhaps you missed all the threats Katie Price has made directly through Twitter and is reported to have made towards me through the media - namely to release video and pictures taken during intimate moments between two consenting adults.

"Perhaps you had forgotten that. Or perhaps neglecting her threats simply fits more comfortably with your seemingly rather distasteful transphobic agenda."

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ILL-FATED: Alex and Katie were married for a year

Mr Reid then thanked Sam for the publicity for his new book, and added: "For your information, I would gladly lose all the ‘fame’ Katie Price has supposedly given me in a heartbeat to be able to get on with my life without her constantly dragging my name into the media for her financial gain and some would say rather sordid media profile."

And of course, Sam herself then had to write an open letter in retaliation.